Winter in Colorado means so much more than skiing, with plenty of other outdoor adventures as well as mountain-inspired wellness rituals to transform mind, body, and spirit.
Below, the best ways to hit the mountains without suiting up in skis.
Spa & Wellness
You can count on Cuvée to provide maximum relaxation. Luxuriate in private downtime with our in-residence restorative massage, followed by champagne or smoothies on the deck, nurtured by the healing properties of fresh Rocky Mountain air under clear blue skies.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is a great way to connect with nature as you summit a Vail Valley peak for a mountain top view from a whole new perspective. Our guide will show you the way with all the support you need, including a camera to capture the moment. And because our local experience leaders love to talk about what make the Rockies such a fascinating part of American history, you’ll also get a lesson with a sense of place and a chef-prepared lunch when you reach the top.
Cross Country Skiing
There’s a meditative quality to cross-country skiing, a wonderful wintertime alternative to downhill—great for mind and body. Also called Nordic skiing, referencing a tradition that began thousands of years ago in northern Scandinavia, we’ll start you off with a private lesson so you can spend a powder day on a groomed track. More experienced skiers can rise to a greater challenge and go ‘off-the-beaten-path’ for more difficult terrain.
Alpine Flying
Colorado is home to 48 of the highest 100 peaks in North America, and you’ll get a bird’s eye view on a Cuvée Alpine Flight Adventure. Flying up to 11,000 feet over Vail’s peaks and valleys, including the Gore Range, Piney Lake, and Beaver Creek, provides a spectacular view of the ever-changing Western land and sky scape. Supplied with a personal headset, you can communicate with your skilled pilot as he narrates the scenery, turning a passenger trip into an interactive Colorado experience.
Snowmobiling
Ride the Continental Divide with our expert snowmobilers for some of the best panoramic views on beautiful backcountry trails. Under their expert tutelage, you’ll explore this sport in an authentic way, even first-timers, and then find a chef-prepared lunch reward waiting in a rustic mountain hut, warmed by a fireplace.
Après Ski
Whatever activity takes you to the slopes, here are our choices for the best places to unwind afterwards, as much a part of Rocky Mountain ritual as the snow itself.
Aspen
Ajax Tavern, known for the best people watching, serves hearty favorites from onion soup to truffle fries. And the wine list, culled from The Little Nell’s 20,000-bottle cellar, along with its Veuve Clicquot In The Snow winter program, pairs up nicely with smaller plates of pâté and carpaccio.With American market-style food served station-by-station, grab an artisan pizza and create your own organic salad before hitting the deck at Elk’s Camp for al fresco dining with a side of mountain view.
Vail
Down-home options with an upscale twist are available at Tavern on the Square, including a wide assortment of local microbrews that prove Colorado is an epicenter of the craft movement. As a quintessential resort village watering hole, The Red Lion is “the place to be after you ski”– a warm and welcoming spot for familiar pub-style food, great Happy Hour deals, and lively music.
Beaver Creek
Located at the base of Chair 17, Broken Arrow serves up refueling burgers from the in-door outdoor grill, soups, and toasted flatbread sandwiches on the open deck or cozy dining room.Spectacular slope-side views, great steaks and fresh seafood make Beaver Creek Chophouse a luxurious end to an adventurous day.